Bloom's Taxonomy

When writing your course objectives, please use the verbs listed below.  Remember, students need to be able to demonstrate these skills.  The lower level skills are acceptable for non-credit and basic skills courses, and the skills should progress upward with the degree level.  Transferable courses need critical thinking skills.

            COGNITIVE SKILLS

simple skills <<------------------------------->> complex skills

  Critical Thinking

Knowledge

define
repeat
record
list
recall
name
relate
underline








 

Comprehension

translate
restate
discuss
describe
recognize
explain
express
identify
locate
report
review
tell




 

Application

interpret
apply
employ
use
demonstrate
dramatize
practice
illustrate
operate
schedule
shop
sketch




 

Analysis

distinguish
analyze
differentiate
appraise
calculate
experiment
test
compare
contrast
criticize
diagram
inspect
debate
inventory
question
relate
solve
examine
categorize

Synthesis

compose
plan
propose
design
formulate
arrange
assemble
collect
construct
create
set up
organize
prepare

 

 

Evaluation

judge
appraise
evaluate
rate
compare
value
revise
score
select
choose
assess
estimate
measure



 

            AFFECTIVE SKILLS

simple skills <<------------------------------->> complex skills

  Critical Thinking

Receiving

ask
choose
describe
follow
give
identify
locate
name
point to
sit
reply
use

 

Responding

answer
assist
aid
comply
conform
discuss
greet
help
label
perform
practice
present
read
recite
report
select
tell
write

Valuing

complete
demonstrate
differentiate
explain
follow
form
initiate
join
justify
propose
read
report
select
share
study

Organizing

adhere
alter
arrange
combine
complete
defend
explain
formulate
generalize
identify
integrate
modify
order
organize
relate
synthesize

Internalizing

acts
discriminates
displays
influences
modifies
performs
practices
proposes
qualifies
revises
serves
solves
verifies

 

PSYCHOMOTOR SKILLS

simple skills <<----------------------------------------------->> complex skills

Perception

choose
describe
detect
differentiate
distinguish
identify
isolate
relate
select

 

Set

begin
display
explain
move
proceed
react
show
state
volunteer

Guided Response

copy
follow
react
reproduce
respond
trace

Mechanism

assemble
calibrate
construct
dismantle
display
fasten
fix
grind
heat
manipulate
measure
mend
mix
organize
sketch

Complex Overt Response

same as "Mechanism", 
but the performance is 
quicker, better, more 
accurate

Adaptation

adapt
alter
change
rearrange
reorganize
revise
vary

 

Origination

arrange
build
combine
compose
construct
create
design
initiate
make
originate

 

 


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